Biography

Biography

Arjan Veen

Arjan Veen was born on 27 August 1992 in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. At a very early age Arjan was very interested in organs and organ music. When he was 8 years old, Arjan took his first organ lesson. As a 15-year-old, Arjan enrolled for the Pre-education Classical Music at the Rotterdam Conservatory, which would prepare him for the admisson exam to the Bachelor program.

Once enrolled for this Bachelor studies at the Codarts Conservatory, Arjan studied the organ with Aart Bergwerff. During his studies, Arjan did a minor in Church Music with Arie Hoek and Hans van Gelder. In 2013, he graduated for his Bachelor degree.

Arjan continued his education at the Master Academy of the Rotterdam Conservatory and studied the organ with Ben van Oosten. In 2015, Arjan graduated with distinction (cum laude). His dissertation was a practice based research on improvisation in the French Romantic Organ School.

Next to his Master program, Arjan took part in several Master Classes, among others by Jan Hage, Jürgen Essl, and Peter Planyavsky.

In both 2012 and 2014, Arjan won the first prize at the ‘Govert van Wijn Organ Competition’ in Maassluis, the Netherlands.

In September 2016, Arjan received the third prize and the special prize at the sixth International Franz Schmidt Organ Competition in Vienna, Austria.In September 2018 he also received the third prize at the seventh edition of this Competition in Vienna, Austria. Besides that, he received an inauguration to give a concert at the Jesuiten Church in Vienna (scheduled for summer 2020).

In January 2017 Arjan is appointed Organist of the Maartenskerk in Doorn. He also holds positions as an organist in Maarn, Scherpenzeel and Woudenberg. On a regular basis he accompanies the Vesper Services at the Domchurch, Utrecht. Arjan is conductor of a choir as well.